Radiolucent Surgical Mallet Head for Real-Time X-Ray Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current biopsy needle systems face challenges with obscuring the needle targeting process due to the large diameter of surgical mallets, which prevents real-time X-ray imaging and increases radiation exposure for both patients and operators during procedures.
Innovation Solution
Development of surgical mallets with radiolucent heads made from materials like polycarbonate, allowing for through-head X-ray imaging and enabling real-time monitoring of needle placement without obstructing the view of the needle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional surgical mallet with a large diameter head is used to drive the needle, then the needle can be effectively driven into the tissue, but the mallet head completely covers the needle and target tissue, preventing real-time X-ray imaging and increasing radiation exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The mallet head is designed with differentiated material properties: the striking face maintains high density for effective needle driving, while the lateral portions use radiolucent materials to allow X-ray passage. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational effectiveness only where needed while reducing radiation exposure in imaging-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The mallet head combines multiple materials with different properties: a dense striking face material for mechanical effectiveness and radiolucent materials (such as polymer or polycarbonate) for X-ray transparency. This composite construction allows the mallet to simultaneously provide effective needle driving capability and enable real-time fluoroscopic imaging, reducing radiation exposure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the mallet head diameter is reduced to allow X-ray imaging through it, then radiation exposure is reduced, but the striking force and effectiveness of needle driving may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The striking face of the mallet head is designed with locally concentrated density and mass to maintain high striking force, while the lateral portions extending from the striking face are made radiolucent. This allows the mallet to deliver effective blows to the needle while permitting X-rays to pass through the reduced lateral sections for imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The mallet head uses composite construction with high-density material at the striking face for force generation and radiolucent materials for the body and lateral portions. This material composition strategy maintains striking effectiveness where force is applied while enabling X-ray transmission in regions where imaging is required.
3Measurement precision
If real-time X-ray imaging is performed during needle insertion, then needle placement accuracy is improved, but the traditional mallet head obscures the imaging view and increases procedure complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The radiolucent material in the mallet head creates a contrast effect with surrounding radiopaque structures (such as a radiopaque marker or sleeve), allowing the needle and target anatomy to be clearly visualized through the mallet head during fluoroscopy. This visual differentiation maintains imaging clarity while the mallet performs its driving function.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction with radiolucent body and radiopaque striking face or marker enables simultaneous visualization of needle position and mallet location during fluoroscopy, simplifying the procedure by allowing continuous real-time imaging without requiring mallet removal or repositioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise real-time imaging and reduced radiation exposure by allowing X-rays to pass through the mallet head, facilitating accurate needle placement and reducing procedure time.
Implementation Method 1
the head comprises a radiolucent material defining at least a portion of the striking face
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure includes embodiments of mallets with radiolucent heads to permit radiologic imaging of a device (e.g., needle) as the device is being positioned with the mallet, as well as methods of using such a mallet, and methods of imaging a device while it is being positioned with such a mallet.